Temperatures have plummeted, topping out in the 20s over the past few days and days in the teens are expected over the next week. This kind of weather has the potential to make ice quickly, though the process is riddled with unpredictability.

“So, you can see a lot of variables are involved,” said Jeff Halblaub, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gaylord. “The temperature of the air, the temperature of the water, the size of the body of water, all of that plays into how quickly ice forms.”

Though it’s difficult to predict ice formation for a given body of water, if the proper conditions are in place, ice can form quickly.

A rough formula says if the average temperature is 30 degrees, it will take about four days to freeze four inches of ice.

Though ice making conditions are ideal, its foolhardy to through precaution out the window.

“Ice in unpredictable,” said Sgt. Greg Drogowski, Department of Natural Resources officer who handles law enforcement in Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties. “From one spot to another on the same lake, ice conditions can vary a lot. Safety is the most important thing.”

Now there is once again a nice sheet of ice covering area lakes.

Also keep in mind the conditions beneath the ice, which are more important than surface appearance.

“A lot of these lakes have springs in them where the ice doesn’t form the same,” explained Drogowski. “Even if you know where the springs are, just wait until there’s plenty of ice for it to be safe. Those fish are still going to be there in a week or however long it takes.”

In most years, ice fishing is underway by the beginning of January, but judging ice conditions based on the calendar or forecast is dangerous.

Like Drogowski mentioned, springs and other variable affect ice formation differently on every lake.

As a given rule, spring fed bodies of water freeze relatively slowly, as do large bodies of water. Weeds and other vegetation or protruding objects also delay freezing.

The only way to safely check ice thickness is to wait until plenty has formed and check the depth with a cordless drill or ice auger.